Jenkins Offers Pro Se Divorce Assistance at Philadelphia Family Court Help Center

Last week, we highlighted the many ways that law libraries are serving Self-Represented Litigants across the country. Several law libraries, including Jenkins, support or host self-help centers to offer assistance to pro se litigants and increase individuals’ access to justice.   

Starting in 2019, Jenkins librarians and staff have volunteered at the Philadelphia Family Court Help Center (1501 Arch St., 11th Floor) twice a week to assist Self-Represented Litigants with simple (no property/assets or debts), no-fault divorces.

 Our librarians work at the Help Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30am to 12:00pm.*  On those days, the court has designated 10 slots for divorce assistance. We see as many people as we can, but due to time constraints, we may not be able to meet with 10 individuals at each session.

The simplest of divorces can be overwhelming to a litigant who has little experience navigating the legal system. While we do not give legal advice, we help individuals make informed decisions by sitting down with them one-on-one to offer information on the:

• types of no-fault divorces
• various steps in the procedures
• forms needed and how to file
• methods of service
• options for lawyer referral services or legal aid

For those who speak a primary language other than English, we can communicate through a telephonic interpreter service, which is provided by the Court.

Like many other law libraries across the nation, we see our service at the Help Center as an integral part of Jenkins’ mission to bring people and information together and to provide comprehensive access to legal information. We’re grateful to partners like Philadelphia Legal Assistance and especially to the Philadelphia Family Court for their support in making our work at the Help Center a reality.

We are excited to report that in 2023, we helped nearly 600 individuals with their divorce!

*Self-Represented Litigants are encouraged to arrive early to get a number from the court staff on the 11th floor (1501 Arch St.) and to be added to the sign-up sheet. The building opens to the public at 8 a.m.